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Posted: 12/19/2011 6:21:42 PM EDT
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Hey Guys!
This is my first post. I recently completed my 1st 5.56 build (Spike's Tact Lower on Stag Arms 2HT upper, with a few other goodies). I plan to use this rifle for property defense, maybe some hunting, but mostly just plain old target shooting. I wanted a mid-range scope as well as the ability to use for CQB situations. In searching for optics options, I really like the Burris XTR/FastFire on PEPR mount Please share your comments on this setup as well as other optics suggestions. |
| I suggest getting the XTR14 and spending the rest of the money on an LT104 mount instead of the PEPR/Fastfire combo. I shoot mine out to 400m on 10" steel with good results and it still works pretty well at 1x for the 50m stuff so I don't think you really need a separate red dot. I do appreciate the qd LaRue since I have Troys for back-up so I think it is money better spent. I use the PEPR on another AR and it is a good solid mount. |
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I love the setup. Its a fast smooth transition having the scopes dialed at 4 and picking the longer targets a few hundred yards away and then very quickly lifting your eye to aquire and hit closer targets maybe 25-50 yards. You sure could do it with the optic at 4x, but its nice switching to a 1x optic in a fraction of a second and getting a expanded field of view. Primary optic with a secondary MRD is a perfect setup. Burris put together some nice packages for a good price. Trevor B. |
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I have to vote against the Burris XTR14. Here is a letter I sent to Burris with the problems I encountered:
Dear Burris Customer Service, I recently purchased a new XTR-14 rifle scope from ******* ****. After mounting it to my AR-15, I noticed that the rear objective housing was loose and the adjustment from 1X to 4X was slightly gritty. I compared this scope to my Fullfield 2 Tactical and my XTR-312, both of which are rock solid and have very smooth magnification adjustments. It was clear that something was wrong with this XTR-14 so I shipped it back to you (Burris) for repair. The XTR-14 was returned to me with a note that internal debris has been removed from the scope and that its functioning was fine. Although the objective housing was no longer excessively loose, the scope developed another problem. After only adjusting the magnification from 1X to 4X a few times, the rear objective housing seized at the 1.5X mark. I tried using a little additional force to get the scope to the 1X mark, but it wouldn’t budge. Next, I slowly rotated the objective from 1.5X to 4X around 30 times. It slowly began to grind back to the 1X position. Now there are particles of debris on the internal reticle lenses. Please remember that this scope has never even been used. I currently own an XTR-312, a Fullfield 2 Tactical, and a Fastfire 1, all of which are excellent. I trust all of these, but I will never trust this particular XTR-14 scope. Please replace it with a new one. I don’t know if something was machined improperly or if something has failed internally, hey, it happens sometimes, but I will not place this questionable scope on my home defense rifle. The Burris XTR-14 has an excellent reputation and I am looking forward to trying another one out. Thank you for your consideration, The 3rd XTR14 that was shipped to me had a pinched/broken O-ring that allowed moisture in, at which point I completely gave up. Also the Fast Fire 1’s have a design flaw in that recoil causes the power on switch to turn off. The switch was reversed on the 2.0 version to prevent this. In my opinion, even though the glass is excellent, the XTR14 is a very low quality scope. Even light pressure on the objective caused the reticule to move around substantially. You should look at Trijicon. |
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I personally have had better luck using a Fastfire on a 90 degree mount, and rotating the gun - for me, at least, it's faster, and i don't like popping my head up to use a red dot mounted on the top of an optic. With the 90 degree mount, I maintain my cheek weld on the stock. Mark H. |
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Quoted:
I personally have had better luck using a Fastfire on a 90 degree mount, and rotating the gun - for me, at least, it's faster, and i don't like popping my head up to use a red dot mounted on the top of an optic. With the 90 degree mount, I maintain my cheek weld on the stock. Mark H. I had used the picatinny top scope cap of my PEPR mount to install a FastFire 2 above a Leupold... I also didn't care for lifting my head to be able to see the dot. I then tried mounting the FF2 on the right rail of my handguard and didn't like rotating my rifle that far to use the MRD. I tried a YHM 45 degree mount (on the top rail) and found it placed the FF2 at a higher plane when canting the rifle. The DD 1 O'clock or Optic Planet's Weaver 1 O'clock mount works perfectly for me. |
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I just put up a thread about something like this. (only talks about the Fastfire II as a MRDS)
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_18/556106_Burris_Fastfire_II___Offset_backup_for_CQB.html I have a few buddies that run a tactical shop in my area and I asked them about this, except with an ACOG instead of a Burris magnified optic, for my Stag Model 3. He told me that with the red dot on top of the scope that you're moving it farther away from the bore of the weapon. This will change the off zero ranges a lot more than if the optic, the Fastfire II in this case, were mounted closer to the bore. This means that if you zero it for 25 yards, an long CQB range but still short for a magnified optic, it will be way off zero (high) at 100 yards and even more off at longer ranges. If you zero it at 100 yards it will then still be off at longer ranges and also at shorter ranges like 25 yards but now you will shoot low at shorter ranges. If holding center mass of a silhouette target, it maybe not the worst thing since we are only talking about a few inches ( I did not do the math so if I am way off someone please correct me) but I'd rather be as close and flexible at all ranges than confined to the range I zeroed it for. This will most likely not be an issue until your main optic fails, then your RDS will need to be used at all ranges. It's really personal preference because I'm sure a lot of people are running this configuration and doing well with it. The alternative he suggested was a "1 o'clock" off set. This will bring the CQB optic closer to the bore and will allow you to get better groups at multiple range with the Fastfire. The down sides are that now you have an optic hanging off the side of your AR and you have to "twist" the weapon to get to the Fastfire. I know this is a bit of a ramble so if you need clarification on anything let me know. As for the performance of the optic, I have no personal experience. I just ordered my Fastfire II with an AR-F3 mount and am waiting to throw it on my stick and get to the range. I will let you know what I think when I get it but I have heard a lot of good things about the Fastfire II. No clue on the 1X-4X scope. |
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FF2 mounted in a AR-F3 cowitnessed on a 16" for the time being (saving sheckles up for Aimpoint Micro/QD mount)
http://i42.tinypic.com/5e7r7p.jpg same FF2 (with picatinny mount) on the DD 1 O'clock mount on my 20" with a Loopy 3x9 (Burris PEPR mount, moved FF from top of rings to DD mount) I also tried the DD mount on the right rail, but it made me move my cheek weld more than if mounted on the top rail. http://i40.tinypic.com/11kuiwi.jpg |
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Quoted:
For those that have an XTR-14, try this for me. Grab the eye piece and try to wiggle it from side to side to see if there is even a slight amount of "wiggle". Mine is Rock solid, I have recommended the XTR-14 scope many times since I purchased it. I use it in conjunction with 45 degree irons and the results are phenomenal. Optics are crystal clear, reticle is useful (I have it set to 4X most of the time) and it feels like it was built to withstand a nuclear holocaust..... 
I wonder if maybe there are some knock offs out there?....... |
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Quoted:
FF2 mounted in a AR-F3 cowitnessed on a 16" for the time being (saving sheckles up for Aimpoint Micro/QD mount) http://i42.tinypic.com/5e7r7p.jpg same FF2 (with picatinny mount) on the DD 1 O'clock mount on my 20" with a Loopy 3x9 (Burris PEPR mount, moved FF from top of rings to DD mount) I also tried the DD mount on the right rail, but it made me move my cheek weld more than if mounted on the top rail. http://i40.tinypic.com/11kuiwi.jpg I've been considering that AR-F3 mount for the FastFire, any pro/cons you have experienced with it? Thanks... ws357 |
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